help me pick from these CHI hotels

[trayanastasio]

I'm not familiar with Lem's - but I'd suggest Smoque if you're looking for good barbecue.

 

Also, it's worth noting that cabs are cheap and plentiful here - I'm not sure it's necessary to pick a hotel that's CTA adjacent.

 

What kind of stuff are you interested in checking out around town, tray?

 

sightseeing, museums, as much as possible for the first chicago visit. suggestions welcomed and appreciated

[tangara]

Okay. I'd suggest the downtown hotels, then - walkable to many of the attractions. Save the neighborhoods for your next visit.

[cryptique]

sightseeing, museums, as much as possible for the first chicago visit. suggestions welcomed and appreciated

Well, you should definitely go to the Art Institute then. Their collection is among the world's finest.

 

As for restaurants, if there are particular cuisines that interest you, mention them and I'm sure you'll get recommendations from the locals -- and they're likely to be a lot cheaper and better than the high-end places. For example, there's a great vegan Korean place way up on the northwest side...

[Chris_H_2]

My friend is the head chef at Blackbird (he was on an episode of Iron Chef America). I highly recommend it. Good times.

[LouisvilleGreg]

I have a somewhat bizarre request that I'm hoping someone could help me with and this seems like the closest thread for me to post. I booked a hotel downtown without knowing that their parking fee was an outrageous $45 per 24 hours. Since I'm near the El and in downtown I'm just planning on taking public transportation all week anyway. So what I need is a kind VCer, that has a place an out of towner could park for the week. It would be a tremendous relief and help me out greatly. Send me a pm if you're able to help. Thanks in advance, Greg

[cryptique]

If you want to try something really interesting, check out Moto in the west loop. It's expensive, but really cool. The chef won Iron Chef America.

My friend is the head chef at Blackbird (he was on an episode of Iron Chef America).

Huh.

[trayanastasio]

thank you all so far.

[JaredTulsa]

Here's something worth looking into. I go to Chicago for weekend trips quite often with a group of friends and we often book condos through a company called athomeinnchicago.com. They rent out extended stay (and very nice) condos for business travelers, and have a minimum 3 night stay policy (it may be two nights actually). Usually, for four of us for a two bedroom condo that has a kitchen, bath, living and dining room it's around $1200 bucks for three nights, which is a steal compared to most of the hotels around there (about $300 per person for the whole weekend). We've saved a lot of money (that we spent on great concerts and restaurants) by doing this, so it's worth checking out. They have locations all over Chicago, and most of them are close to the L.

[H.Stone]

Here's something worth looking into. I go to Chicago for weekend trips quite often with a group of friends and we often book condos through a company called athomeinnchicago.com. They rent out extended stay (and very nice) condos for business travelers, and have a minimum 3 night stay policy (it may be two nights actually). Usually, for four of us for a two bedroom condo that has a kitchen, bath, living and dining room it's around $1200 bucks for three nights, which is a steal compared to most of the hotels around there (about $300 per person for the whole weekend). We've saved a lot of money (that we spent on great concerts and restaurants) by doing this, so it's worth checking out. They have locations all over Chicago, and most of them are close to the L.

 

This is a great tip, thanks. We go to Chicago multiple times each year, and we just may use this option in the future. Thanks!

[Edie]

I have a somewhat bizarre request that I'm hoping someone could help me with and this seems like the closest thread for me to post. I booked a hotel downtown without knowing that their parking fee was an outrageous $45 per 24 hours. Since I'm near the El and in downtown I'm just planning on taking public transportation all week anyway. So what I need is a kind VCer, that has a place an out of towner could park for the week. It would be a tremendous relief and help me out greatly. Send me a pm if you're able to help. Thanks in advance, Greg

 

If you are getting in town early enough, you can look for a non-meter and non-regulated parking spot near the L, and just park your car there for the week. Or use one of the CTA's park and ride lots -- I think the one at Howard (on the Red Line) is like $1.75 a day.

[LouieB]

Where is A-man to post up all the past threads. We have given so much great advice over the years. Chicago is like every other large city, lots of hotels downtown and some in the outlying areas and a bunch in the burbs and a ton by the airport. the Riv is right at the Lawrence stop of the Red Line (not to be confused with the Lawrence and Western stop on the Brown line which is not close.)

 

Since I have never stayed at a downtown hotel (oh yea I have a time or two) I would think that the cheapest you can get would be fine. Don't consider the SROs in Uptown unless you are truly the adventuresome type, but if you are make sure you report back on them. You might have a great time a la The Chelsea Hotel in NYC or something, with the hookers and drug addicts and all. But one of them might be just right.

 

LouieB

[LouisvilleGreg]

I just booked via Hotwire what looks like a gorgeous hotel called the Allerton on Michigan Avenue. Truth be told, it may be so fancy that I'm looked at with disgust. Also their parking rate is $45 a night!!! What close to downtown neighborhoods would be good to park my car in for days at a time?

[alison the wilca]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22509356/

[yankee]

If you are getting in town early enough, you can look for a non-meter and non-regulated parking spot near the L, and just park your car there for the week. Or use one of the CTA's park and ride lots -- I think the one at Howard (on the Red Line) is like $1.75 a day.

You could always park on the street, then ditch your car for the weekend. There's often street parking in the west loop. My brother lives around Racine and Washington and parks on the street.

[yankee]

Don't consider the SROs in Uptown unless you are truly the adventuresome type, but if you are make sure you report back on them. You might have a great time a la The Chelsea Hotel in NYC or something, with the hookers and drug addicts and all. But one of them might be just right.

 

LouieB

 

I'm with you. Wouldn't recommend the single room occupancy places.

 

However, if you do want to explore the neighborhood around the Riv, I'd say head up to Argyle and enjoy some southeast Asian cuisine. Oh, and check out the Green Mill.

[chitaper]

If you are getting in town early enough, you can look for a non-meter and non-regulated parking spot near the L, and just park your car there for the week.

You could probably get away with that, but there is a law in Chicago that a car that hasn't moved in 3 days is considered abandoned and subject to ticket and tow to an impound lot. Realistically, this won't happen unless one of the neighbors calls it in because it's in the spot he usually parks in or some other reason.

 

And be careful of snow routes! Some streets don't allow parking from 2 am to 6 am, snow or no snow.

[LouieB]

I just booked via Hotwire what looks like a gorgeous hotel called the Allerton on Michigan Avenue. Truth be told, it may be so fancy that I'm looked at with disgust. Also their parking rate is $45 a night!!! What close to downtown neighborhoods would be good to park my car in for days at a time?

The Allerton is an old line hotel that has been rehabed. Should be fun. Also my suggestion for parking...rather than go to the lneighborhoods and risk getitng broken into, park in one of the city lots downtown, particularly the Monroe St. underground. It is less than $45 a day and much safer. This garage is attached to the Millenium Park Garage which I don't recommend, because it is harder than hell to find a car in. Even the Grant Park underground will be less than $45 for 24 hours. Of course neither of these is that close to the Allerton, so you might also try some of the lots closer to the Gold Coast. Not cheap, since nothing is cheap. But really I would not leave a car unattended for days at a time (particularly with out of state plates) in any neighborhood, unless of course you have kind of a beater, which is okay then.

Edit- whoa..i never saw THIS before Looks like it might produce some interesting parking info.

 

I'm with you. Wouldn't recommend the single room occupancy places.

 

However, if you do want to explore the neighborhood around the Riv, I'd say head up to Argyle and enjoy some southeast Asian cuisine. Oh, and check out the Green Mill.

Pho is on me......

 

The Green Mill is a great place in the afternoon prior to shows when it is free. Also fun at night with the jazz and cover, but probably not somewhere you really need to go after a Wilco show, particularly if you want to talk.

 

LouieB

[yankee]

The Allerton is an old line hotel that has been rehabed. Should be fun. Also my suggestion for parking...rather than go to the lneighborhoods and risk getitng broken into, park in one of the city lots downtown, particularly the Monroe St. underground. It is less than $45 a day and much safer. This garage is attached to the Millenium Park Garage which I don't recommend, because it is harder than hell to find a car in. Even the Grant Park underground will be less than $45 for 24 hours. Of course neither of these is that close to the Allerton, so you might also try some of the lots closer to the Gold Coast. Not cheap, since nothing is cheap. But really I would not leave a car unattended for days at a time (particularly with out of state plates) in any neighborhood, unless of course you have kind of a beater, which is okay then.

Edit- whoa..i never saw THIS before Looks like it might produce some interesting parking info.

 

Pho is on me......

 

The Green Mill is a great place in the afternoon prior to shows when it is free. Also fun at night with the jazz and cover, but probably not somewhere you really need to go after a Wilco show, particularly if you want to talk.

 

LouieB

 

True, Green Mill is more for some serious jazz listening, and best to arrive early before it gets packed. And I think they still do Sunday night poetry slams, but I haven't been to that in ages. It's pretty entertaining, particularly since the judges are selected at random from the audience, and they can rate the poets from 1 to 10 and can also use negative numbers, but just can't go below the lowest score ever scored in a Green Mill poetry slam: negative infinity.

[Edie]

You could probably get away with that, but there is a law in Chicago that a car that hasn't moved in 3 days is considered abandoned and subject to ticket and tow to an impound lot. Realistically, this won't happen unless one of the neighbors calls it in because it's in the spot he usually parks in or some other reason.

 

And be careful of snow routes! Some streets don't allow parking from 2 am to 6 am, snow or no snow.

 

He can always move it up the street or to the other side

[sunshine bends]

how is the Chicago Hilton on I believe Michigan Ave. ? is it far from the RIV ?

 

thanks guys..

[nora]

As someone who might be bitching at someone about a crappy hotel. I say go with the Marriot (if I spelled that wrong it was then on purpose) There is a nice one by Ontario... so all the mag mile stuff is right there. I tried a $90 hotel room once and had to check right out... ockcay aochrays were also guests. I know some folks were also happy at the Radisson. I don't know what the paid. Drake should be top notch but may not be worth the price. As far as the others some are older. With a chain you get some assurance. I think it was the Conrad where somone said "there is no heat on our whole floor.

 

Good luck. wish I had tickets it shoud be great

[LouieB]

how is the Chicago Hilton on I believe Michigan Ave. ? is it far from the RIV ?

 

thanks guys..

It is the Hilton and Towers, formerly the Conrad Hilton, scene of 1968 riots. I assume it is good and a reasonable el ride to the Riv.

 

And yes the Mill still had poetry slams on Sunday which would be a fun place to spend the off night.

 

LouieB

[sunshine bends]

thanks louieB cant wait .. I will visit a couple CHICAGO FIRE stations as I am a LA county fireman..

 

looking very forward to the shows .. I hear nothing but great things about CHICAGO..

[pnêyu]

I just booked via Hotwire what looks like a gorgeous hotel called the Allerton on Michigan Avenue. Truth be told, it may be so fancy that I'm looked at with disgust.

We just stayed there, and it isn't fancy at all. It's an older hotel undergoing some renovations, and it was a fine crash pad for a night. If you're looking for supermodern amenities, you won't find them here, but it was a comfortable, centrally located room. We didn't drive, so I can't help you on parking, though.

[yankee]

He can always move it up the street or to the other side

 

Yep. I would tend to park my car in the West Loop, check the signs carefully, and maybe stop back once during the week to check on it or move it.

 

However, before taking my advice, you might want to note that I have a 1995 Accord that has been brought back from the brink of "totaled" 5 times. (This car has been rear-ended twice, sideswiped by a crazy driver in a big van, backed into at a red light by a driver who didn't realize she was in reverse, and last but not least, it was stolen, smashed up in a chase with police, then recovered.) It looks rough, but runs well.

 

So I really don't worry when I park on the street and come back to discover a new scratch on the bumper or a new ding on the door. I'm just glad when it's still there, I don't have any parking tickets, and all the windows are in tact,. (Yeah, I've also had a window smashed while parked on the street in Wicker Park.)

 

But if you love your car and don't want any dings on it, you might be better off coughing up the money for secure parking or just leaving your car at home.